Serie A | Bologna 3-1 Monza: Orsolini sparks fightback victory | OneFootball

Bologna completed the comeback after a surprise Daniel Maldini counter-attack to sweep Monza aside 3-1 including Santiago Castro and Riccardo Orsolini goals.

The Rossoblu were coming off back-to-back 2-2 thrillers with Roma and Inter, welcoming Jhon Lucumi back from suspension. Salvatore Bocchetti was fresh off a shock victory against Fiorentina, but was still rock bottom with Pedro Periera suspended, Luca Caldirola, Dany Mota Carvalho, Pablo Mari, Samuele Birindelli, Alessio Cragno, Matteo Pessina and Roberto Gagliardini injured.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a frantic start, because when Santiago Castro’s volley was charged down, Monza immediately went on the counter-attack and scored as Daniel Maldini sprung the offside trap on a perfectly-weighted Patrick Ciurria through ball.

Bologna got back on level terms when Riccardo Orsolini whipped in a left-footed cross from the right, finding the glancing Castro header into the far bottom corner.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Santiago Castro of Bologna celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Bologna and Monza at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 18, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The hosts were swarming and the pressure paid off with a well-worked goal to turn it around, as Benjamin Dominguez laid it off for Jens Odgaard to flick it up with his first touch and blast in on the half-volley with his left boot.

It really should’ve been 3-1 moments later, but Carboni made a decisive block on the Orsolini roll across and Stefan Posch incredibly ballooned the follow-up over from point-blank range.

Monza also lost Warren Bondo to yet another injury, while Dominguez tested Stefano Turati at the near post.

Thijs Dallinga nodded an Orsolini cross wide, but Orsolini finally broke his goal drought when controlling the Charalampos Lykogiannis cross from the left and turning in from a tight angle with his left boot at the back post.

It could’ve easily been more, but Stefano Turati had to make a sensational save on the looping Dallinga header, then on the resulting corner Lorenzo De Silvestri’s low drive thumped the inside of the upright.

Maldini 4 (M), Castro 22 (B), Odgaard 34 (B), Orsolini 69 (B)